Include Mushrooms in your daily meals By Dr Harold Gunatillake-Health writer Chinese and Japanese eat lots of varieties of Mushroom. Some Sri Lankans in Sri Lanka believe they are poisonous. You still could buy the button variety grown locally in the super-markets and other market places. They need to be thoroughly washed before use, as the market ones look dirty. Mushrooms grow from the soil and further reason to clean them before cooking. They require careful cleaning to remove dirt, mould and bacteria from their outer surface. Light scrubbing, and minimal amount of rinsing is all that is required. Rinsing can be done after major chopping or slicing to expose more surface area for cleaning. It is a good idea to pat to rinse cut or wrap mushrooms with a paper towel. You must take care not to smash them in the process of cleaning. ...